Salt and pepper shaker



Feb. 2, 1937.

0, C. GRAGG SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER iled Jan. 31, 1936 a 3 /ZJa57 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to salt and pepper shakers and objects of my improvements are to secure strength and simplicity of construction and convenience and effectiveness in operation.

I secure these objects in the device shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a device embodying my invention partly in section.

Figure 2 is a section on the broken line II, II, II, Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the parts being in one operative position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the parts being in another operative position.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view showing the positioning construction.

2 is a cylindrical container for the salt, closed at the bottom and open at the top. 3 is a cylinder, closed at the top by a Wall 3a, open at the bottom, and having its open lower end removably engaging in the open upper end of the container 2, to form a closure therefor.

4 is a cylindrical container for the pepper, having its upper end closed by a wall 4a. which is extended beyond the wall of the container 4 in the annular flange 4b. The container 4 is of less diameter than the closure 3 and is placed approximately coaxial with and inside of the latter with its wall 4a and flange 4b engaging against the lower surface of the end wall 3a of the closure 3. The lower end of the container 4 is open except for the removable disc 40, screwed therein. 5, 5, are coaxial apertures formed through the cylindrical wall of the cover 3 at opposite points thereof. 6, 6, are guiding and actuating rods passing through the apertures 5, 5, and engaging in" the wall of the container 4 at their inner ends.

The container 4 may be moved laterally in the cover 3 in one or the other direction, by. pressing inward on one or the other of the rods 6, 6, which slide in and are guided by the apertures 5, 5.

l, 1, indicates apertures through the end wall 3a, arranged in an approximately concentric series just within the periphery thereof, and, 8, 8, are similar apertures arranged in a circular series approximately concentric with the series I, 1, and of less diameter.

9, 9, are apertures through the flange 4b arranged in an approximately circular series so as to register with the apertures l, 1, at one end of the travel of the container 4 only, and, II], II), are apertures through the end wall 4a of the container 4, adapted to register with the apertures 8, 8, only at the other end of the travel of the container 4.

II is a lug stuck up from the center of the end wall 4a of the container 4, and, l2, l2, are concavities formed in the lower surface of the end wall 3a, of the closure 3, in position to receive the lug II at the ends of the travel of the receptacle 4, respectively.

The operation of the above described deviceis as follows:-

The closure 3 is removed by unscrewing it from the receptacle 2, and salt is placed in said receptacle. The disc 40 is then unscrewed from the receptacle 4, pepper is placed therein, and the disc screwed back in place by the thumb piece below its center. The closure 3 is then screwed back into place as shown in Figure 1.

Now, if salt is desired, the receptacle 4 is forced 5 to the right by pressing inwardly on the left hand rod 6, as shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, the apertures 9 registering with the apertures 1, to form continuous passages for the salt. In this position of the parts, the apertures 8 and I0 are out of registering position so that no passage for the pepper is afforded. The receptacle 4 is held accurately in position by the lug I l snapping into the right hand cavity l2.

If pepper is desired, the receptacle is forced to the left by means of the right hand rod 6, and the lug ll clicks into the left hand cavity l2. In this position, the apertures 1 and 9 are out of registering position and no passage for salt is afforded, while the apertures 8 and I0 register, providing continuous passages for the pepper (see Figure 3).

The strength and simplicity of the construction will be noticed and that the resiliency of the parts is utilized for preventing lost motion and in the positioning of the receptacle 4, so that no separate spring is needed.

What I claim is:-

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a container having an end wall, a second container located within the first named container and having a portion bearing against said wall, said second container being adapted to move rectilineally and transversely within the first named container, said portion sliding along said Wall, said second container having an opening through said portion, said wall being provided with a plurality of apertures, said apertures being so located and said second container being so formed that said opening shall register with one of said apertures to form a discharge passage from said second container and the other apertures shall be closed at one end of the travel of said second container, and the first named aperture shall be closed and another aperture opened to form a passage from the first named container at the other end of the travel of said second container and means for actuating said second container from the outside of the first named container.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a container having an end wall, a second container located within the first named container and having a portion bearing against said wall, said second container being adapted to move rectilineally and transversely within the first named container, said portion sliding along said wall, said second container having an opening through said portion, said wall being provided with a plurality of apertures, said apertures being so located and said second container being so formed that said opening shall register with one of said apertures to form a discharge passage from said second container and the other apertures shall be closed at one end of the travel of said second container, and the first named aperture shall be closed and another aperture opened to form a passage from the first named container at the other end of the travel of said second container and means for actuating said second container from the outside of the first named container, said actuating means being adapted to hold said portion and said wall in close contact.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described a container having a side wall and an end wall, a second container adapted to reciprocate laterally in the first named container, said side wall having a suitable aperture therethrough, a rod extending through and guided by the wall of said aperture and engaging said second container whereby said second container is held and may be moved with its end in contact with said end wall, said end wall and the end of said second container being so constructed that there shall be a passage from the first container at one end of the movement of said second container, and a passage from the second container at the other end of said movement, and that one of said passages shall be closed when the other is open.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described a container having side walls and an end wall, a second container adapted to reciprocate laterally in the first named container, said side walls having suitable oppositely located apertures therethrough, rods extending through said apertures and engaging said second container whereby said second container may be moved with its end in contact with said end wall, a disc covering the contacting end of said second container and extending beyond the periphery thereof, said end wall and said disc being so constructed that there shall be a passage from the first container at one end of the movement of said second container and a passage from the second container at the other end of said movement and that each of said passages shall be closed when the other is open.

OWEN C. GRAGG. 

